Hybrid Control Techniques for the Design of Industrial Controllers

This tutorial paper provides an overview of where techniques based on hybrid dynamic models are suitable or promising for designing controllers of industrial plants, in particular chemical processing systems. After summarizing the typical control tasks prevalent in the hierarchical automation structure of industrial plants, the paper focusses on two techniques employing hybrid models that recently have gained much attention by the research community: the algorithmic verification of safety-related discrete controls, and the optimal control of large transitions, like startup, shutdown, or product switch-over.